A dialogue on Mexican immigration?

Some Utah business leaders hope a visit by Mexico's ambassador the United States will open a discussion on tough immigration issues and help spark economic development.

Ambassador Carlos de Icaza is set to meet with business leaders at an invitation-only luncheon Friday. The ambassador will meet privately with the governor and legislative leadership on Friday.

Lane Beattie, president and chief executive officer of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, said a 17 percent tourism spike since Utah hosted the 2002 Winter Olympics is evidence of how critical international trade relations are.

"I think it speaks volumes that we have an ambassador of Mexico here, and a governor who understands international trade and was involved as an ambassador himself," he said of Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who has served as U.S. ambassador to Singapore. Beattie said the chamber is also "very, very pleased" that Huntsman plans to address immigration.

The only event open to the public will be a lecture by Icaza tonight at Brigham Young University on U.S.-Mexico relations. It will be at 7 p.m. at the Joseph F. Smith Building, room B-092.

Minuteman Alex Segura said he's concerned that the meeting with the governor will be behind closed doors. Segura is one of about 30 activists against illegal immigration planning a demonstration at the Capitol Complex.

"I'm hoping that the ambassador and the governor will release what they talk about," he said. "Seeing as how (de Icaza) represents Mexico, he'll be looking at the best interest of the people of Mexico . . . more so than the interest of Utahns."

Joe Reyna, chairman-elect of the Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, said the visit is likely a prelude to a visit by Mexican President Vicente Fox. He said potential protests will have "no impact" on whether Fox visits Utah.

"When an ambassador from a country like Mexico comes to visit us, that is a big signal," Reyna said. "It is a signal that something bigger is coming."

Reyna hoped the visit would highlight the importance of a trade relationship between Utah and Mexico.

The visit is a sign that Huntsman's Utah-Mexico "Alliance for Prosperity" is "moving on the scale of very, very well," said Mexican Consul Salvador Jimenez.

"It's very important to give the signal to the authorities here that we are very interested in maintaining the momentum of the relationship," Jimenez said.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com